Simon Cowell has forked out for this year’s intake (Picture: David Livingston/Getty Images)

Simon Cowell is shelling out £5,000 a week for his X Factor contestants to live in the lap of luxury.

The finalists will move into the sprawling mansion for the live shows, which begin after Judges’ Houses, and they will luxuriate in their fancy surroundings until Si Co sends them home.

This year he’s reportedly gone even more upmarket than usual, and given that it’s not like they usually live in squalor, he really has gone some, renting a place with a swimming pool and rooftop gym for his proteges.

He’ll shell out around £30k for the place as live shows are said to be lasting for six weeks this year.

The contestants will also get a mooch of Simon’s £10m pad in the South Of France for Judges’ Houses

The North London pad boasts seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, so no bickering over who’s taking too long in the shower, and three reception rooms, so they don’t even have to hang out together if they don’t want to. There’s also a sauna for them to unwind in, and a three car garage.

Not too shabby, eh?

The house is also said to be lined with a load of trees as well as gates across the TWO driveways, so that it can be kept nice and private.